Colorado State's Shaquil Barrett named Mountain West football defender of the year

Senior leads selection of 5 Rams to first team, nine overall

By Mike Brohard Sports Editor

Posted:
12/10/2013 10:26:50 AM MST

FORT COLLINS -- Shaquil Barrett said it was advice his father gave him long ago.

Stay humble and if you're good, you won't have to brag. Others will do it for you. The Colorado State senior linebacker said he lived by that motto, and on Tuesday, the Mountain West did indeed speak for him.

Barrett was named the Mountain West defensive player of the year, heading a list of nine Rams who earned recognition through voting by the conference's coaches and media. He was one of five CSU players to earn first-team honors, the other four coming from the offense.

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Barrett said it was hard work from the first day that led to him to lead the Mountain West in both tackles for loss (20.5) and sacks (12). His tackles for loss broke the conference record and ranked fourth nationally. His 12 sacks ranked third in the country.

He also blocked three kicks, forced three fumbles, had a fumble recovery and an interception, along with five quarterback hurries and two pass breakups.

Colorado State senior linebacker Shaquil Barrett was named the Mountain West defensive player of the year Tuesday. Barrett ranked in the top five nationally in tackles for loss and sacks.
(Steve Stoner)

"I really didn't know specifically I was going to come out and have a good year as I did this year, I just knew I was going to come out and play every play 100 percent," Barrett said. "It just led to me getting a lot of tackles for loss and a lot of sacks. I'm just happy and proud of that fact."

Also joining him on the first team were center Weston Richburg, tight end Crockett Gillmore, running back Kapri Bibbs and kicker Jared Roberts. It is the first time since 2008 the Rams have had offensive players make the first team.

Offensive tackle Ty Sambrailo and defensive back Shaq Bell were named to the second team, while tight end Kivon Cartwright and linebacker Max Morgan received honorable mention in voting by coaches and media who cover the conference.

The impact Barrett had came from his play, because that's how he led. He said he was vocal at times, but for the most part, he followed his normal path to let his play do the talking. Bell said those big plays were instrumental for the defense.

"He's a playmaker and not a role player," Bell said. "Guys get a chance to see him make plays every game, and he does. His impact is just incredible to the team."

Barrett had his share of big games. He blocked two of his kicks against Cal Poly, and in his three-sack effort against UTEP, two of them turned the tide. After the Miners had tied the game with three quick scores after halftime, Barrett had two sacks on one series, each leading to a fumble. The second was recovered for a safety by the Rams, who never looked back after regaining the lead.

Barrett admitted to a bit of drive on his part. He was a member of the preseason all-Mountain West team, but not the highlighted defensive player. That honor went to Fresno State defensive back Derron Smith.

"At the conference media day, I was looking at it, and I think they had somebody from (Fresno State) preseason winning it, and I looked at that and I just didn't agree with that at all," he said, joking. "Since that day, I thought about it at the beginning of the season, my performances and everything, but as the season came out, I totally forgot about it. It wasn't the reason I was doing what I was doing on the field, but at the beginning of the season, it's what got me started, lit my fire for me."

He is the second Ram to win the MW defender of the year, joining Rick Crowell in 2000. Brady Smith won it as part of the WAC in 1995.

Richburg, a senior, anchored an offensive line that allowed Bibbs to run for a conference-leading 1,572 yards and a nation-leading 28 touchdowns. Richburg, who graded out above 90 percent in every game and led the team with 45 knockdown blocks, was so highly thought of by the CSU coaching staff that he was their nomination for offensive player of the year (won by Fresno State quarterback Derek Carr).

Gillmore was third on the team and led all MW tight ends with 43 catches this year, good for 533 yards and two touchdowns.

Roberts made 17 of his 20 field goal attempts this season, including both of his tries beyond 50 yards, nailing a career-best 54-yarder against Air Force. He was also perfect on all 54 of his point-after attempts.

Sambrailo, a junior, will be the only returning lineman for the Rams next season. He graded out above 89 percent in every game this season, helping the Rams become the only team in the country with a 3,200-yard passer and 1,500-yard rusher. Bell played all over the secondary for the Rams in his senior season, finishing with 57 tackles, 7.5 of them for a loss. He had one interception and finished with five pass breakups.

Cartwright finished with 25 catches for 411 yards and six touchdowns, while Morgan led the Rams with 129 tackles.

Richburg said the number of selections the Rams had said a lot about the direction of the program, one that is headed to the New Mexico Bowl on Dec. 21.

"It speaks huge volumes for what we've been able to do in the second year of being under Coach Mac (Jim McElwain) and buying in to what he wants and what he expects," Richburg said. "It shows that everybody is starting to buy in more and more and we're seeing those results on the field, as well."